Hubby's Birthday

On Sunday evening we met up with some dear friends of ours and surprised hubby with dinner at a local hibachi grill/sushi place we LOVE to go to!

He was surprised about everyone who came to celebrate with us. {I love a good surprise!}

If you aren't familiar with a hibachi grill, they cook the food right in front of you and it usually involves entertainment and large flames! I really wasn't sure how Little lady would react to it, but I hoped for the best.

 

And she did great!! {You can see the reflection of the flame on the left. And all smiles on the right!!}

We really enjoyed seeing and visiting with everyone that came!

{The bride and groom to be joined us!}

They brought a yummy dessert and we all sang to hubby.

And they played a little trick on him and told him to use a straw to suck out the 'strawberry mousse' that was in the middle....

But there wasn't anything in there! Just ice cream. Which this little lady was more than happy to help devour!

And today, for his actual birthday, I took the kids to get cupcakes from a local favorite place and we had them after dinner. Yum!

Happy birthday, my sweetheart! We love you. :)

Diapers, diapers, diapers!

Just got these in the mail...

Six cloth diapers and 12 reusable inserts.

I've never used this kind before, but I'm really excited for Little Dude to wake up from his nap so I can put his baby soft bum in one of these silky soft diapers! I mean, seriously! The inside of these diapers are SO soft wish I had a pair! 

I'm also excited about the option of us using disposable inserts in them as another option! Or if Little dude ends up being a super soaker, I can even double up the inserts for extra absorbency.

Look for a review of these in the next week or two. :) 

Excited!

I have been absent from writing here. I have to confess, that I've been writing some where else.

Hubby and I have been writing on a blog, private at the moment, to document something that God has put on our hearts.

I'm so excited to share it... soon!

In other news, this Saturday is my 'little' sister's wedding day! I get to be in the honored place standing next to her as her Matron of Honor and I couldn't be more honored to stand there! :D

She is marrying a wonderful godly guy. I couldn't be more proud of them and their dedication to remain pure before their wedding. What a special testimony in a world that choses to make marriage and sex 'no big deal.' There commitment alone speaks of their love and devotion to the Lord and His commands to us.

Marriage is such a blessing and gift from the Lord. I think I'm most excited that they too will soon be able to experience the joy, love and growth that marriage brings to a person. I have been praying for the two of them since I first thought they may be the ones for each other and I am so honored to be a part of the prayer team that will continue to pray for them in the journey of marriage that is ahead of them. Any one who is married knows that prayer and support is a must!

The bride and 2 out of 3 bridesmaids at the bridal shower.

Sisters :)

Just a few Little things we've been up to lately!

There is a certain big sister reading one of her favorite books to a little brother. She's a good big sister!

                    

There is a new sheriff in these parts. And he is a mighty cute little feller if I do say so myself!

And a big boy too, as I can report that his first night in his crib in his room was a success! It actually happened by chance because I was planning on making the change after we finished the details of his room in the next couple weeks. But Little dude has been taking his naps during the day in his crib and he fell asleep last night around 7pm {about the time Little lady is going to bed} so I fed him, swaddled him and laid him down thinking he would wake up no later than 2 hours and I'd move him to our room for the night. 

9 pm came and went... then at 10pm, when he was still asleep I figured I better get some sleep myself so hubby and I headed to bed. When little dude woke up at 1:45 am I was really surprised but just went with it and fed him in his room and laid him back in his crib. He only woke up one other time before getting up at 6 am! I just hope tonight can go just as smoothly!!

Little lady showed off her big girl skills by going down the 'big' slide at the park. She climbed up on the equipment by herself as well! Oh, she's getting so big!!

And yesterday while my car was in the shop for regular servicing....

...the littles got to cruise in their first convertible!

It was a really windy day so we only wen to the end of the street with the top down. It was a fun family adventure!

That's some of the little things we have been up to. 

What about you, what have you been up to lately?

Little Lady {20 Months}

Hey Little Lady, guess what?!

Do you know what today is??

You are 20 months old today!!!

Sizes

Clothes: You are wearing mostly size 2t - 3t, depending on the brand.

Shoes: You are right between 5 & 6. 

Diapers: You are still wearing a size 4. We talk about going potty on the big potty but as of yet you haven't done that. We aren't going to rush it either.

Exciting news, isn't it?!

Favorites

Books: 

You have a couple lately, but right now you ask me to read Suggle Puppy by Sandra Boyton to you over and over again! I love her books and we have fun acting them out when we read them. :)

Words/ phrases:
You're in a very loving stage and love to give 'hug' and 'tiss' {kiss} tp everyone and everything! Yes all your toys and even your food and silverware! So cute :)

Food:

Still the same story, you are a picky eater right now. But you are getting better, some days are better than others. I'm getting firmer and not giving you anything else if you don't eat what I give you. And you have to wait til the next meal time or snack time {which is always usually something healthy} and no sweets unless you ate well at you last meal. I don't really ask you what you want any more, I just give you food and try not to react one way or another when you don't eat it. Just take it away and get you out of your seat and your done. Maybe one day you'll eat what ever I give for sake of not being hungry! :)

Activity:

You still love to color! And you have been loving the sensory tubs that I put together for you! I'm trying to change it out once a month and I hope to get a theme going for each month. I let you play outside on the porch on warmer days and it makes clean up a lot less stressful {for mamas!} and lets you have a little more freedom to get crazy when you play! You love to sit in the bucket and to feel what ever it is in there under your feet. Silly girl!

Song:

You love to 'sing' the ABC song with me! And you can say most of the letters too! I have a video that I took of you saying them with me, I'm hoping to figure out how to get it on to the comp from my phone... You love singing 'This little light of mine!' and you usually chime in when we sing 'SHINE!' and you say it really loud. :) You even hold up your finger candle and do the motions with me. We really have fun these days. :D

Sleep:

You still take a nap once a day, but it's starting to be later in the afternoon lately and still for about 2 hours. It's amazing to see a toddler who just months ago was screaming when ever we put you in your crib for nap or night time and now you love to play 'nap-time' and act it out for FUN! Praise the Lord, He hears our prayers!!

Character traits:

You are still very dramatic and animated! You love to do silly things and laugh with us, even if you don't know why we are laughing, you fit your laugh in there too! And you love to get involved with what ever we are doing, if I'm sweeping or vacuuming, you want to put your hands on the vacuum and 'help'. And you get so proud of yourself for 'help'-ing too! I love it and pray that you grow to have a servants heart, excited about doing whatever the Lord asks of you. 

Challenges:

You are having a hard time with learning to share and having a generous heart. Often times you will offer to give someone a toy, cup or snack saying 'here go' and then when they go to take it you pull it back saying 'no, mine!' I'm also trying to cultivate your relationship with your brother. You have a resistance to him right now that I pray will be broken and I hope that as you two grow up together you see how important it is to keep your relationship with each other strong!

Happy 20 months my precious baby girl!!

We love you so much!

Little Dude {5 Months +1 day!}

Little dude is 5 months old!

It seems like I'm doing these milestone posts more than any other post! But I love that I'll be able to look back and see what you were doing and learning at each month. :)

Sizes

Clothes:
You are wearing 6-12 month size clothes! You are so long so 3-6 month clothes are too short for you, although they fit you weight wise.

Diapers:
Still wearing size 2 in disposable.

Sleep:
You are still waking up at least 2 times a night, sometimes 3 times a night. My hope is that you will start sleeping longer stretches when we start solids in another month! During the day you are starting to show us a pattern for naps and we are trying to train you to fall asleep on your own by swaddling you and laying you down when you're eyes are heavy but you are still asleep. It works more times then most. :)

Food:
You're still nursing full-time with an occasional bottle of pumped milk. You still eat about evert 2.5-3 hours and it's about 3 oz each time. I'm excited to start making your baby food in the next month!

Activity:

• You are becoming more interactive with your toys now. You will reach for them or swing at them. You reach for our plate or whatever we are holding while you are in our lap. 
• You still chew on your hands like crazy and you are drooling all the time! 
• You still love to sit up in your Bumbo seat and love to look around and watch me make dinner or watch big sissy play around you. You'll ever sit for small amounts of time in your bouncer or excersaucer.
• You haven't rolled over yet, but you are already trying to sit up on you're own!

Character traits:
Content: You still just hang out and go along for the ride. And you are so full of joy! You laugh and smile with such ease. Sometimes it's just a look from your big sister and you are laughing so hard it's contagious! I hope you never lose that joy, baby boy. It's truly from the Lord! :) 

Challenges:

Still trying to figure out a nap routine for you through out the day. You still sleep off and on in your swing during the day or in your car seat when we are out and about. I still haven't moved you to your room at night, but I'm holding out for longer sleep stretches or when you're six months, which ever comes first.

We sure do love you, little dude!
Couldn't imagine our family without you!!

Honestly...

Can I be honest?

I have been wrestling with God on a matter that I will surely lose. And I should lose. I want to lose.

If I didn't lose, but God were to lose {which He won't} then I would still lose, because that would mean God is failable. And God isn't failabe. He's never wrong and He can't mess up. He's God. Creator of the universe! He made all things, even you and me.

So why wrestle with a God who won't lose? I wish I knew.

I don't know why my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.

I do know that I am a sinner. And I know that I have been saved by grace from eternal separation from God through Jesus Christ's death on the cross. I was born again and I am a new creation. But I'm not complete until the day I go to heaven.

I am a work in progress and Jesus continues to work in me every single day, to make me the new creation He created me to be. To be more like Him. Loving, forgiving, gracious, merciful, truthful, compassionate and believing.

Belief is a huge struggle for me. I'm so slow to turn my trust over to the only One who is trustworthy. And I only hinder myself in not believing.

Believing what?, you might be asking. That God is able.

I know in my head that He is able. I've seen with my eyes that He is able. I hear stories telling of His ability. The proof is all around me!

I have been a follower of Jesus for almost 7 years now and in the last couple years or so I've found myself wondering, 'God, why don't I see you do big things in my life? I want to be used by You to bring Glory to You. I desire to see Your glory specifically in my life! I see it others around me, I hear of Your great works in others lives. I know you are able. So what is missing, God?'

Do you believe I can do it?

I hear Him say it to me and it stops me dead in my tracks. And it makes my stomach sink. The feeling I get when I've been exposed or I realize I just did or said something embarrassing. It stings, hearing the truth sometimes.

But I'm grateful that God is patient with me. He has known this about me, my lack of trust and belief in His ability in my life but He hasn't given up on me. He's gentle but firm in showing me my lacking. He still believes in me even when I don't believe in Him.

I want to see this change in my life. I want to see God do great things. I want believe that He can, will and does do great works in the littlest of things to the biggest of things, even in my life!

My desire is to believe that God can do what He says He will do. That when I ask, according to His will, for Him to work that I also believe that He can and that He will do it. I wish to be as the centurion found in Matthew 8:5-13.

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."

And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"

"And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

I know in my head that He can do great things. I've seen and I've read of many, many accounts where He has done the impossible. But now it's time for me to believe it in my heart that He can and will do great things and that He will do them in my life too!

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:13-14

Wondering

When my sweet tiny baby girl....

...became this BIG little lady?

Funny Little Lady.

I've been patiently waiting for the day my baby girl would say funny things that make me laugh so hard! My mama has several stories from when I was little that she loves to tell me and we laugh. And that show 'Kids say the darndest things' was always such a hoot.

Well the day has finally come where she is talking more and more and I want to record those sweet things that either bring a smile or a good chuckle!

* Pointing to a picture of yourself on the screen "You! You! That's You!"

* You always go up to your space heater in your room and say 'Hot!' and then blow on it. This morning you as we were leaving your room you said 'Bye Hot!'

* While at Nana's house a month ago while everyone was sick, Nana had a bag of Ricola Lemon Herb throat drops that we would tell you 'No touch, those are Nana's'. Last week when you saw a bag here at home you said, 'No Touch! Nana's!

* Every time you see a cat 'Nana's! Nana's!' Naturally, since she has two!


That's all I have so far but I will keep sharing as they come up. And yes I realize these probably aren't that funny to everyone else, but they are to me and I want to remember them!

Overwhelming

Today God has overwhelmed me with His love. I can't really explain it but the Holy Spirit has just confirmed in me His truth in several areas that I have been struggling with. Nothing in particular happened. I listened to a podcast on Revelation from my pastor and then another message on the radio while driving.

It could be that just taking in God's word, His Spirit was able to speak to me. What ever it was, I needed it today. :) I love the overwhelming feeling of God's love. I just feel so at peace, like nothing could shake me or move me from the foundation He has placed me on.

The three simple truths that God confirmed in my spirit today are:

1. God is not a God of fear.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afriad of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

2. God is not a God of condemnation.

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17

3. God is not a God of confusion.

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33

I am thankful to serve and know a living God who cares enough to speak His truth to me and confirm it in my spirit when I need it most.

Something I heard in this video I want to share and really love is: God is still God. God is still good.
Have a blessed weekend in Him!


A Story | Tears of Hope from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Tea Time.

 Had a tea party with my best little lady yesterday.

And she cooked for me!

And even sharing with little 'Bubbas' too. :)